Monday, September 28, 2009

It's Monday and that means my second edition of "Follow Me Monday"! Today I'm going to discuss coupon organization! I had so many questions regarding this last week, so I thought I'd put your confusion to rest and describe in detail how I organize my coupons. Please keep in mind that the video is very long and will be quite boring if you already know how to organize your coupons, but for those of you that don't, well, I hope it's helpful. Also, if you have any other coupon organization tips, I'd love to hear about them in the comment section.

This is a 2 part video. The first part will be all about my favorite coupon organization method--the binder. The second part will be showing how I clip my coupons to save time. Plus, I'll take you into Walmart and give you an idea of how much it will cost to make your own coupon binder.

Oh and I just want to quickly tell you why I don't use a zippered binder (this part accidentally got cut out of the video). I first started out with a zippered binder, but I built up a nice coupon stash quite fast and was no longer able to zip it. To me the whole point of a zippered binder is to zip it, so your coupons don't fall out. Plus, it was so bulky and very difficult to put in my purse. I finally realized that for me anyway, it made way more sense to just buy a normal binder. It fits in my purse nicely--which I show in the video and I'm able to pull out coupons without having to actually take the binder out of my purse. It works great!

Thank you....I always start out the week very organized but by the end of the week everything is all over the place and it takes me a few hours to get it all back together. The way you clip your Q's is really going to help. I'm a smart girl why didnt I think of that...I do that with my printables.

If you have a 1.5" binder, you can just use a tote. I use my VS Pink canvas ones (that I got for free thanks to Collin!), and there is enough room in there to open the binder enough to get the coupons out. Not all of them have pockets, but if you don't want to invest in a purse and have a smaller binder, it's a pretty decent option.

Love the organizational tips. Off topic...I would like to know how you organize all your personal care items. I get so many lotions, shampoos etc free items my cabinets are bursting. I can barely close them and everytime I try to take something out everything tips over.

Just to let everyone know the Cast it DUAL ring binders are clearanced at 75% off at Target right now. My store had about 10 left but I have one of these that I have been using for a couple years and so I nabbed a second one last night. These work great!

Thanks so much for the great information. I don't think you are a dork...does that mean I'm a dork???? Sooooo glad to finally know where to find the baseball card organizers. I have been searching and everywhere I ask I get a blank stare. I'm going to go by some this afternoon!

The videos are awesome and are perfect for those who learn visually. It is nice to see what is out there and what someone else does.

I generally do the same categories as you do, since I bought a binder again last night I am actually going to seperate my Personal Care items and food. Yes, I know I will carry around two binders. LOL I need a really big purse!

But you inspired me to get into my binder and do a little reorganizing.

Your videos are great! I do consider myself an extreme couponer and use the 3 ring binder method. I shop a lot at Publix. They are great at accepting competitor coupons. What I came up with (my friend Holly and I use this) is a simple way to keep track of coupons we can stack. I took some extra file folers, cut them down to 2.5 x 4" tabs and place these "tabs", along with my match ups in the top row. I will try to send a pic but I'm not quite sure how to do that. Does this make sense? It makes it very easy when I'm either organizing my list, or at the store, to easily find my match ups/stackables!

Thank yo so much for showing how you organize. I have been using an accordian style folder to keep all my inserts in tact, but it takes me forever to find a coupon. I am heading out to the store to buy everything I need! THANK YOU!!!

Very helpful video!!! I'm a newbie couponer and still using the expandable file organizer (coupon size). But after watching your video, I might switch to binders and baseball card pockets (coz now I know where they are). Thanks Collin!

What a great video! I use the 3 ring binder method. I use a binder I got at Staples. Pricey but heavy duty (everything else would fall apart quickly). I actually use business card holders to store the Qs. They are smaller so you have to fold your Qs down a little BUT you get 10 on each page vs. 6. I fold them so I can see the exp. date on the back and the item on the front. You can buy packs of these pretty cheap at an office store. Can also buy in bulk pretty cheap.

Oh, I also would like to know where you got your purse. I have a bag that my binder fits in perfectly but it has short little handles which makes it really hard to carry when baby is in tow too! Thanks for all of your hard work!

You are way to cute! I LOVE the video blogs!! You are helping me out so much!! I loved that you actually went to Walmart to show us!! lol !! Great job and thank you so much! I've been going back and forth about "upgrading" to a binder....I think I might after you showing me all the info! Although, I may need to buy a purse like yours now! hee, hee! Ohh and do you clip ALL coupons...or do you keep some at home and clip just what you know you'll use? Thanks again!!

Ok so dumb question maybe but you post the dates related to the q do you put that on the pages so you know where they came from? I am trying the write the date on the front but that is hard to track I am finding. Just wondering how to put all the info together. I have a place I can get the baseball sleeves for $3 a pack so I will have to remember to pick them up when I am there next.

I can sort of answer your question. There are a couple of sites out there that actually have a coupon database and will tell you which insert each coupon is in. I search the database when I am trying to find a coupon.

There are also people out there that actually do NOT cut the coupons out of the inserts and they have them filed by date in which the insert came out, that way it makes it much easier for them to find the coupon they are looking for.

Thank you so much for this! I'm working my way up to the binder. I've been collecting bits and pieces as I see them on sale. Right now I'm using the same purple accordion thing you showed in the video. It's bursting at the seams and my husband said it's time to move up now that I've "gone pro". I showed him the video and your binder and showed him what "going pro" really is LOL!

Also just wanted to add that I don't think everyone needs to clip every single coupon. I personally don't use every coupon, so I just use the "Monster Insert" method like Erica at iheartcvs.com shows. It's pretty much just doing what Collin did, but stapling and re-assembling, and leaving it at that. Then you can find your coupons only when needed for a deal. I put them in a file folders by date. That's why we refer to coupons by codes like "9/27 SS" anyway!

Thanks I guess I didn't explain. I have been doing the no cut method and write the date on the front. However it is a pain when I run into good clearance deals. Don't know where anything is. I am liking this method but I wondered if she is putting the date on a sticker or something on the baseball sheet so she knows when they were in the paper or does she not worry about that since they are all sorted in category. I just want a system that I can live with and isn't time consuming. Right now I am being taken over by Q's and missing lots of deals I feel.

I totally love your videos! I'm trying to be a pro couponer lol but have not branched out to anything but Walmart yet. I need to but so afraid of all the rules and such each store has.

Your system is pretty much like mine! I use the smaller binder since I'm new..and wow! You have coupons!! I'm a bit short right now :(.

I have an idea if your interested. I see you said you put your coupons your going to be using in your purses side pouch? I bought one of those larger 3 ring pen/pencil etc zipper pouches with the clear plastic window and placed it in the front of my binder to place coupons I will be using in. Makes it easy to get to and see..as well as being with the rest of my Q's! Also..I "borrowed" lol my husbands calculater that has the 3 ring binder holes on the side especially made to put into 3 ring binders so I can find out what kind of savings, or whatever else I need to calculate.

If you use the baseball card holder, you can see the expiration date. If I have to fold my coupon, I fold it so that it shows what it is and the date. I have found that scanning the binder or whatever you use once a week or month, you can see what is going to expire or pull out expired coupons. I do it every Sunday before putting in new coupons. It also puts a mental note when I am shopping of what coupons I have. I am just weird like that..I can tell you what I have a coupon for, but I can't remember where I put my keys!

How do you stay on top of expiration dates in the binder? Or do you not care? Right now my coupons are a mess and I'm hoping to upgrade to the binder method. I've been using an accordion folder and I file based on expiration date, but then if I want more than one of a product and have two coupons with different expiration dates, I have to go hunting. I'd like to file them by specific product in a binder, but what if a coupon is about to expire? Or do you just figure that deal was not meant to be? Along those lines, how do you then weed out your coupons after they have expired. I find that with my accordion it is very easy because I just go to the front every week and throw away coupons that I did not use that have expired, with the binder, I'm going to be plucking out more and having to look through them to see if they are going to expire soon! Just really confused on this....Would love to hear how others are doing it.

I was able to find the hard plastic dividers at the 99cents only store. There were 8 in each packet. I had seen baseball card holders there also, but when I went back they had no more :( Thank You for your video of Tips!!

I use my old small accordian organizer to help me by sorting my coupons per store. That way I can organize my whole shopping trip to every store ahead of time. then when I get to say Target I go to that catagory and pull out the coupons I plan to use there. If I don't get to all my stores I still have them ready to go and can easily find them.

I do end up throwing away coupons I didn't use and they expired. But it just might be me? I'm on a tight budget, so I look for them to go on sale if the coupon isn't exactly high value. I separate my Q's in my binder just like Collin, and scan that section of the store as I come to it and see if an item I have a Q for is on sale.

I too go through my binder once a week..and usually by the end of the month I have thrown away quite a few coupons. But I know they will be back again and hopefully be a greater deal. But I do like to try and make use of my high value coupons before they expire.

I just converted to the binder method and it's much easier to find your coupons. However, to get started, it takes FOREVER to set up/organize your binder and super-clip the coupons so they'll fit in the baseball card holders (about 10 hours!). But it's worth it! I got a 2" zippered binder - high quality- with pockets at Target for $9 or so. Pretty expensive, but it's holding my coupons well. Plus I started off with 2 packages of baseball card holders from Walmart and barely had enough! I need to find out how to get my tabs to stick out more so I can read them and they're not covered by the baseball cards. Anyways, great video!

Instead of throwing expired coupons away, you can donate them to military families. Visit : www.ocpnet.org for more information. 5 friends and I go in together and send a big batch once a month. It feels great to help our military families!

Great video! Thanks for all the work and sharing such great tips. I had a question though on organizing, does each coupon get it's own little pocket? And echoing some other here, do you find that you cut out EVERY SINGLE coupon or just those you know you will be using? I have found over the last few months, which are the more likely "good" coupons that I would use, but then as soon as I toss the insert you find some great deal with that one I thought I would not ever find for cheap! So just wondering how your coupons "make the cut!"

I wanted to say thank you. I have become a devoted hip2save gal since May, and you have changed our life! I work off commission in sales and economy hurts that quite a bit. My husband was laid off and with all of that, I am able to stuff my cupboards more now than ever. Thank you for all you do!! You are great! (P.S. Love the videos!)

Collin, I'm also a military wife and have a question for you about military coupons. Do you keep yours seperate, in another binder, or just in another section? I don't like to combine them with "civilian" coupons as that can get confusing. There are enough to make a small binder but didn't know if it's worth it. Any suggestions?

Off topic : Anybody tried using the coupon for FREE Downy Wrinkle Releaser, Travel size? I bought one yesterday from Target priced at $1.97. But instead of giving it free, the cashier deducted $1 & I ended up paying .97

I just bought a small 4x6 brag photo album to use as a coupon organizer and it works great. It has 42 spaces which I can fit about 3 coupons that I can see and more behind if I need to. Just wanted to let everyone know if they are new to couponing it is a cheap way to start out. I bought it a Target for $1.98. I fits great in my purse everyday. I like to have my coupons with me everyday - you never know when you are going to run into a great deal.

Ok I guess I could give some detail on why I love the Case It 3inch ring zipper binder.

It zips, has inside expandable folders included, pockets inside and out (for your calc and scissors) and it has an adjustable shoulder that can be detached. Also has a a strap for carrying it by hand. I also purchased the baseball cards for organizing. It's heavy b/ I don't mind it. I don't leave home w/o it.

I use a 3 ring binder as well. I just wanted to add another tip that yall might find helpful. I purchased some square pieces of velcro and attached them to the back of a small hand held calculator and the other squares to the front inside cover of my binder. That way if I ever need a calculator, I have one handy. And I can take it off and put it back in my binder as needed. Works great!!

Thanks so much for all you do! I had stopped clipping coupons, because of the work cutting them, but using your cutting method (duh!) It is already much easier. I tried the file system, but felt like I missed alot of deals since I didn't really See and view the coupons I had regularly. Back to clipping today, and it was a breeze! ;) Thanks again!!!!

Excellent videos. I used to categorize, but I've switched to alphabetical order within a handful of categories (food, home, and body are the big ones) and find that SO much easier for me. Very little thought has to go into where to put a coupon or where to find it when I need it. I was WAY over-categorizing before.

ok, so after looking over the coments, if you want to do this and allso know what insert your coupons came from you could use a dry erase marker and write it on each pocket or print the list of all the coupons and keep them in the front and cross them of when they are used, just some ideas

Thanks for sharing! I organize my coupons to match the grocery store layout like you but my binder is UGLY. It is a case zipper binder with 2 sets of rings (1 used for food -the other for cleaning, personal, laundry,etc). I carry it along with my purse and my friends cringe when I want to bring it in the store! I have a hard time keeping up with expiration dates so I am hoping you will cover that. Also your binder looks so light? I bet mine weighs 15 lbs! You handle yours like it is an envelope!

I just wanted to mention that instead of getting tab dividers when I made my coupon binder, I bought sticky plastic tabs to stick onto the baseball cards sheets. It was much cheaper and very colorful :).

What a great video!!! I just advanced to my own 3 ring binder a few weeks ago(our coupon categories are almost identical.) I saved $70.00 last grocery trip! Whopee!!! I have found it doesn't hurt to ask...yesterday at walmart I mentioned to the clerk that a gallon of milk at Walgreens is $1.69 right now and she honored the price! I mean there is $2.00 right there! I told the manager of another grocerystore that the basil I was buying for $3.00 looked really bad and could he give me a discount, he just told me to take it. Another $3.00 in my pocket. I never take advantage of situations, like I would never lie about a competitor's price, but it doesn't hurt to ask if they will honor it. Thanks for all you do!!!

Ana,Here are 2 other sites you might want to try:www.taylortownpreview.comhttp://www.dealseekingmom.com/coupon-database/If you like them, you could just add them to your favorites...that's what I did. HTH:)

Perfect timing for this one! I was just getting ready to trade in my collapsible, which is bursting at the seams, for a binder and this really helps! I don't think you were exaggerating about the $20,000 I've been couponing for a little over a month now and I've saved well over $1000. It's amazing! I've got a huge purse that I bought for air travel with little ones (cups, portable DVD player, DVDs, snacks, coloring books, crayons etc) and I think I will be trading my smaller purse for that one very soon. Thanks again for your this, it's great!

Oh my gosh! I loved the video. Thanks so much! I have been using 42 snack-size ziplocks taped together with clear packing tape and labeled with file folder labels for a couple of months and have so many coupons that I really need to upgrade! I can hardly wait to get to Walmart to start my binder!!!

GREAT VIDEO! Keep doing these. I don't know what I did before I found your site! I know, I spent too much MONEY! Don't have the time to clip and file though. I like couponmom's suggestion of dating and filing the inserts and then clipping as I need em! THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!!!

Collin, I love your site and please keep up the good work...i am very grateful to be able to get this info. i am trying to convince my friends to join me because it will save them money but they all say that they dont understand but when I show them my receipt from walmart that i only paid $8 for $35 worth of stuff they were amazed. The woman behind me in the line said Wow how did you that..and it made me happy.

Loving the video's - what's next week? I would love to see how you organize your stockpiled items!

I use the binder method - but I have 2 3" binders one for food & one for non food - plus a small check file for my drugstore specific coupons and to take my lists & coupons with me to the store, it's organized with a tab for each store plus extra's (Walgreens Coupons, Walgreens RR, CVS Coupons, ECB's, etc.)

Great video! Also thanks for returning by email last week. I found the Pull Up Wipes...just where you said they were at your store. THANKS again for all your hard work can't wait until next week's video!

Thanks so much for the coupon binder organization info-just an FYI that the coupon holders aka baseball card holders are quite a bit cheaper at Target as compared to Wal-Mart-not sure exactly the amount but it is noticably different.

We (my son and I) clip coupons while we watch tv. Keeps our hands busy and gets something boring done at the same time. I use the baseball card inserts as well. We fold them so you can see the item on front and exp. date on back. Makes it easy to get rid of expired ones. I go through them thursday night before we shop on friday at walmart and target. I am going to get some zipper bags that hold pens and things to put coupons in by store specifications.

I go through the night before shopping and paperclip together all the coupons I plan or hope to use. I will use the zipper bags from now on. It helps me from having to look through the whole thing.

Last thing is... I have started copy and pasting your deal scenarios to notepad and then printing it out. I put them in the front of my binder in full pages so I can remember what I went in there to get. Since we are on a tight budget this helps out a lot. I usually know before hand exactly what I am going to spend at each store.

Love these videos! You have me almost convinced to switch from the whole insert method to clipping. I feel like I miss so many 'on the spot' deals by not having all my Q's with me. It is a scary thing to think about destroying months worth of organized whole inserts and clip them all. Has anybody else made this switch and are you happy with it?

After watching last weeks video and seeing your awesome coupon binder, I was totally inspired to make one for myself. So last week I went to Walmart and bought one of the zip up binders, the plastic dividers and baseball card holders and created my binder. I LOVE IT! I was using one of those wallet coupon organizers and it took my forever to find which coupon I wanted. I took my new binder to the grocery store and saved $30.00. I went to another store and saved another 20.00 I then went to CVS and bought 5 bottles of Dawn Hand Renewal with 5 $1.00 coupons and got all of them for free! I could just see everything right away. Ya I was kinda nervous about people looking at me funny with my HUGE binder, but after all of the money I saved I am so happy I don't even care. I need to get a cool bag like yours! Thank you SO much!! You have helped save me money and TIME!! This has totally changed the way I shop!

You are awesome! I LOVE MONDAYS! Thanks for sharing that. I use somewhat the same method you do, but rather than using a binder I use a picture album. It was MUCH CHEAPER! I couldn't find baseball card inserts when I started this method, so I thought of trying a picture album, because it has inserts already in it.

hehe he.. i love these videos.funny thing though..bought the same purse @ Target, but mine fell apart about 9 months later and now i can't find the purse anymore! I am so bummed b/c it was the best thing ever!

I love the videos, too! I check your blog several times a day ( like so many others) and it's cool to see the "real deal". =)

I had 2 bill sized organizers ;ne was for groceries, cleaning products and restaurants and the other for all personal care items.The personal care organizer finally "busted" and I splurged and bought a $12 Mead zippered binder at Walgreens ( not on sale OMG... but I had a lot of RRs that were about to expire-- oops!).

I didn't see how the baseball card sheets would work not realizing that you only put a few coupons in each pocket so I bought some of the photo sheets for $2/pk at Wal-mart. Each sheet has 3 larger pockets. They are great if you have several coupons for each pocket but not too many ( they'll fall out!).

After watching your videos, I think I will use the tabs instead of subdividing things so much ( easy to find, but hard to sort and weed out expired!) and go to using mostly the baseball card holders.

I am going to hang onto my "pricey" binder for awhile-- I do like that it has the expandable folders in it and a place for calculator, etc. I have a tab on the files for each store that I frequent and each week I put all of the coupons from the matchups in the respective sections.

I also do a copy and paste like someone else mentioned, but I do it in MS word because you can hold down CTRL and click the coupon links to print the coupons. I usually try to have everything in the computer by the prior Thurs. and then I can go through and print coupons and have everything lined up for shopping. I have a 1 year old and it's worked great for me! I also keep my EBs and RRs in the respective store categories.

As for storage, my husband converted one of our walk-in closets into an extra pantry and it's been great for food items and also toiletries. I have hanging shoe organizers with pockets in almost all of my closets with pet treats, razors and food items.

The big thing that has helped my family is investing in about 12 under the bed Rubbermaid style storage tubs. I have labelled each with "hair products" , "body wash/deodorant", etc. and I fill those to capacity before using precious pantry space!

Sorry to be so long-winded!( I get worked up and out of breath, too BTW!)HTH!

A thought on TROWING AWAY EXP COUPONS, see if you can donate them to groups that will send them oversees to our troups. There was just an article in our local paper about how the troups can use them for 6 months past there expiration date. I figure we have them clipped & sorted already anyway, why not try to help our & show support? I imagine you can google it in your area. Thanks :)

Thank you for taking the time to do this, it helped me a great deal!!!! I am so excited about my current saving and now after watching your video I look fwd to saving even more!!! so thanks again, Trish

Maybe this has been asked and I overlooked it in the comments, but for all who use the binder method - if you have multiple (but different) coupons for the same item do you put them in separate slots or together?

ex.) 3 french's mustard coupons, 2 for $0.75 off and 1 for $0.55 all expiring at different times....

I was excited that I use the same method you use (almost) and our categories are almost the same, too! Another tip...besides baseball card inserts get a small pack of the full-size sheet protectors for bigger coupons like bed, bath & beyond coupons, and also the clear photo holders have 3-4 pockets. I actually use that now, but I just bought some baseball card inserts today, too. I organize my grocery coupons by actual aisle...like I have aisle 1 is cereal, peanut butter, etc....and I have all the categories on that page. Then all my other ones in the back I have sorted alphabetically (baby, dental, makeup, paper products,...etc.)Love the videos!

I love all your tips and your site. Your videos are great! I do have a question. Does store security ever stop you? That purse is big. Does anyone ever think you are shoplifting? I'm wondering because I work in retail myself.

Dearest Collin, I just finished watching your video. You really crack me up because you and I are a lot alike. I'm also a dork (just ask my friends and family,) and I talk as fast as you do (most of the time I have to repeat myself.)Anyway I wanted to let you know that your Hip2Save blog and videos are helping thousands of people to save money and time. Your videos show us that you are the "REAL" deal and that you are just like the rest of us. The information you provide is very valueable and I thank you for all that you do for your readers and followers.

I just wanted to add that Walgreen's carries a set of plastic dividers that have a pocket on them! What is nice is that the tabs are large and stick out past the card holder pages enough to read easily. I use the pocket to put the coupons that are going to expire in a day or two or if I do not have time for newly printed coupons.

I thought you were nuts to have a binder for coupons. Then I went shopping with my little organizer and fumbled through the coupons, frustrated as ever. I ran out and bought the stuff to organize and LOVE it. I added a few zipper pockets to the binder for pen/scissors, emails of store coupon policies and store receipts. I am hooked on this! Thanks for the idea.

luv the videos!!! i have learned at ton and the trip to wal-mart one is hilarious, the checkout guy looked scared!! and i'm glad i'm not the only one who can't pronounce half those names!!! thanks for all you do!!!

Thank you so much for everything you've done for us. I really like your video. I have one question. As you show us your coupon binder, I don't see any internet printed coupons. Could you please also show us how do you organize your IP coupons? Do you fold them and put in baseball card sheet as well? maybe in a different binder? I always have a problem finding my IP coupons when I need it. Thank you.

fyi hobby lobby has a really nice VERY durable 3 inch binder with 100 - 9 pocket pages for baseball cards for $19.99! what a great deal! it is in the section with all the easels and coin/baseball card collector items.

On the chance that Anon. that posted about the Case It binder w/strap that she got on amazon.com is still following this post....

The reviews were good and bad. I am tending to think that the ones that said that the binders fell apart were from parents of school kids who abused them. However, I do lug my binder in and out quite a bit and don't want something flimsy, so anyone who has a positive or negative review for this binder...I would appreciate feedback.

Hi, I found 3 inch D ring zippered binders at walmart yesterday w/ the leftover back to school items that were on markdown...they were 7.00! They also had 2 inch for 7.00 and 1 1/2 inch for 3.00...all zippered binders. There were plastic dividers on sale for 1.50. Not bad!

Ok. I just love the organizer you have. I use the accordian style. I currently have 2 of those that I carry in my store. 1 for food items and one for nonfood. It can be a hassle. I even made he attempt to switch to your binder method felt completely overwhelmed since I realized that I would have to fold a LOT of my coupons to make them fit. Since seeing your video, I think I will give it a shot again. From time to time I have to take a break from couponing. So during this next break period, I will begin the switch. Thanks for the demo...

Hey there! Ok so you are awesome!!! I have been doing the couponing for about 6 months now and I am so addicted. I went from the envelope...to the file box....to a filing cabinet(no clipping but sorted by date) and then to the well known...zipper binder. I just watched a few of your videos and learned a few tricks. Thank you!!!! ~Amiah

Thank you SO much for the awesome videos! I watch them every week! My husband was a skeptic when I started and now he is bringing my receipts out to the neighbors and bragging!! I just started couponing a little over a month ago and I LOVE it! I was just starting to put my categories on my binder when I saw your video! I love your purse too I turned up the video and told hubby I need a new purse LOL!